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Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve likely heard about ASP.NET 5--and some of the big changes it will be bringing to Web development for .NET developers. Personally, I just haven’t been able to keep up with all of the low-level details about what is being changed or improved, but I have been able to stay abreast of some of the bigger changes and the overarching strategy improvements that ASP.NET 5 represents. Things are starting to look very exciting....More

I've been using my new iPhone for some time now. I'm more proficient with it, and I have become spoiled by the number and quality of apps in the iOS ecosystem, but I still miss my Windows Phone. In fact, if it weren't for the apps, I'd go back to the Windows Phone in a minute....More

With a Bachelor's in Near Eastern Studies, it probably goes without saying that I don’t have much of a formal background in development or information systems. Happily, however, I’ve always "rolled" a bit nerdy and have always loved computers. So it was that I found myself doing data entry at one point while working to put myself through college. And it was there that I bought my first "programming" book: Roger Jennings’ massive "Special Edition: Using Access 2000." Little did I know then, but books would end up playing a significant role in getting where I am today....More

Usernames and passwords have been with us for a very long time, and many people think that their time has come and gone. SQRL, the Secure Quick Reliable Login system, is an interesting proposal by security expert Steve Gibson to do away with them once and for all. Based on QR codes, the system uses strong encryption for authentication, which also provides some identity management protections as well. Don Kiely introduces SQRL, in the hope of never having to remember a username and password ever again!...More

Maybe I'm just getting grumpy and mean as I get older. Maybe that's why I'm using the word "failure" so much of late. After all, I did recently celebrate my 43rd birthday - so maybe I'm just transforming from a semi-sane person into a mean old man that sits on his porch and shouts at kids to get off his lawn....More

I just switched back to an iPhone after more than five years with the Windows Phone. And guess what? I miss my Windows Phone 8.1. Yes, after having worked for or with Microsoft for over 20 years, I gave up my Windows Phone 8.1 for an iPhone 6. Don’t get me wrong. The iPhone 6 is an awesome device. I like it, and it will grow on me day by day as I relearn how to use it. It’s just shocking that there are a handful of features iPhone doesn’t have that the Windows Phone does....More

This is a rant, so I'll try to keep it fairly short - despite the highly inflammatory title. The problem, however, is that I really do think that User Access Control (UAC) is actually worse than being a mere failure. Specifically, I think it fails to accomplish what it was, apparently, intended to do, and it gets in the way for legitimate end-users and Systems Administrators....More

JavaScript is on the cusp of becoming a "real" programming language, which could have some very serious impacts on both client and server Web development. Don Kiely kicks off a series of articles in 2015 about JavaScript, starting with a brief history of its development. These are exciting times for the language, and Don hopes it survives its evolution....More

While thinking back on what I’ve accomplished this year, I’m reminded that a few tools I used throughout the year have helped me accomplish much more than would have been the case otherwise. As such, I want to take a few minutes to share some of the more beneficial tools I’ve used, including my favorite tool of 2014....More

Don Kiely adds his commentary to the flood of opinions about Microsofts' recent announcements about open sourcing much of the .NET Framework, their new found love for Linux and OSX, and the release of the Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition. And asks the question: Are these moves radical, revolutionary, or evolutionary? But no matter what they are, they are most certainly BIG....More